Apparatus for vacuum packing

ABSTRACT

There is provided a vacuum packaging apparatus in which a cover is operated to hermetically seal a vacuum chamber to provide an evacuated environment by allowing the vacuum chamber to be in a more complete vacuum state. The vacuum packaging apparatus includes a lower body having a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum generating device; a cover connected to the lower body to cover the vacuum chamber; and a vertical moving unit connected between the cover and the lower body to allow the cover to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower body and closely contact the lower body such that the vacuum chamber is hermetically sealed when the vacuum generating device starts a vacuum creating operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging apparatus, and more particularly, to a vacuum packaging apparatus in which a cover is operated to hermetically seal a vacuum chamber to provide an evacuated environment by allowing the vacuum chamber to be in a more complete vacuum state.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a vacuum packaging apparatus is configured by hinge coupling of an upper case and a lower case, and is operated to perform vacuum packaging by closing the case after a vacuum wrapper is positioned between the upper case and the lower case.

A chamber-type vacuum packaging apparatus according to the related art creates a vacuum within a wrapper by positioning an opening portion of the wrapper in a vacuum chamber and withdrawing air from within the vacuum chamber using a vacuum pump or the like. After the vacuum is created using the vacuum pump or the like, the opening portion of the wrapper is sealed by thermal fusion through a heating wire disposed at the front portion of the upper and lower cases to thereby complete vacuum packaging. This configuration is disclosed in detail in Korean Utility Model No. 20-0319700.

However, the related art vacuum packaging apparatus may start the creation of the vacuum in a state in which a user presses the upper case to hermetically seal the vacuum chamber, causing inconvenience in the use thereof.

Furthermore, since the user may find it difficult to press down on the upper case with steady pressure, a possibility of failure to hermetically seal the vacuum chamber may exist, whereby the vacuum efficiency of the vacuum packaging apparatus may not be uniform.

In addition, sealing members may be provided on a lower surface of the upper case and a lower surface of the lower case to be brought into contact with one another so as to form the vacuum within the vacuum chamber, and the sealing members may be rubber packing members or the like. As the user continuously presses the upper case, the rubber packing members may be deformed and the upper and lower sealing members may fail to closely contact one another, whereby the creation of the vacuum within the vacuum chamber may not be facilitated.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An aspect of the present invention provides a vacuum packaging apparatus in which a cover is operated to completely seal a vacuum chamber when a vacuum creating operation is initiated, thereby providing an evacuated environment by allowing the vacuum chamber to be in a more complete vacuum state.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a vacuum packaging apparatus able to allow a vacuum chamber to be hermetically sealed even in the case that first and second sealing pads are deformed by repetitive pressing, whereby vacuum efficiency can be further improved.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum packaging apparatus including: a lower body having a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum generating device; a cover connected to the lower body to cover the vacuum chamber; and a vertical moving unit connected between the cover and the lower body to allow the cover to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower body and closely contact the lower body such that the vacuum chamber is hermetically sealed when the vacuum generating device starts a vacuum creating operation.

The vertical moving unit may include a cylinder body disposed in the lower body and having an air intake port connected to the vacuum generating device and a hollow space connected to the air intake port; a piston having one end fixed to the cover and the other end inserted into the hollow space of the cylinder body and moving downwardly in a length direction of the cylinder body due to restoring force when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation; and an elastic member having one end fixed to the cylinder body, provided to surround the piston and moving upwardly in the length direction of the cylinder body when the vacuum generating device stops the vacuum creating operation.

The vertical moving unit may further include a guide member disposed to be adjacent to the piston, fixed to the cover, and guiding movement of the piston when the piston is operated.

The air intake port may include an air intake hole having a smaller inner diameter than that of an end of the air intake port.

The vacuum generating device may include a vacuum generating unit provided to withdraw air from within the vacuum chamber and the hollow space of the cylinder body such that the vacuum chamber and the hollow space may be vacuumized; a first vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the air intake port of the cylinder body; a second vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the vacuum chamber; and a controlling unit connected to the vacuum generating unit and controlling the vacuum generating unit to withdraw the air through at least one of the first vacuum hose and the second vacuum hose when the vacuum creating operation is started.

The controlling unit may perform a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space of the cylinder body to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the first vacuum hose such that the piston may move downwardly in the length direction of the cylinder body to allow the cover and the lower body to contact one another, and may perform a second vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the vacuum chamber to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the second vacuum hose. The second vacuum creating operation may be performed independently of and subsequent to the first vacuum creating operation or may be performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum packaging apparatus including a lower body having a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum generating device; a cover hinge-coupled to the lower body to cover the vacuum chamber and including a cover protrusion disposed on a lower end portion thereof and inserted into a protrusion through hole provided in the lower body; and a locking unit fixing the cover to the lower body by allowing the cover protrusion to be fixedly inserted into the protrusion through hole when the cover is positioned to cover the vacuum chamber and the vacuum generating device starts a vacuum creating operation.

The locking unit may include a hook caught by a hook receiving hole formed in the cover protrusion to fix the cover protrusion; a cylinder member having one end fixed to the hook and the other end connected to the vacuum generating device and performing a reciprocating piston operation when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation such that the hook may be caught by the hook receiving hole; and an elastic member connected to the hook and allowing the hook to be separated from the hook receiving hole due to restoring force when the vacuum generating device stops a vacuum creating operation.

The hook may have an upper end thereof bent and caught by the hook receiving hole, and a lower end of the hook may be hinge-coupled to a hinge member fixed to the lower body such that the hook may pull the cover protrusion downwardly while rotating at a predetermined angle using the hinge member as an axis of rotation when the cylinder member moves.

The cylinder member may include a cylinder body having a hollow space therein and installed in the lower body while being connected to the vacuum generating device; and a piston having one end fixed to the hook and the other end inserted into the hollow space of the cylinder body and moving in a length direction of the cylinder body when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation.

The vacuum generating device may include a vacuum generating unit provided to withdraw air from within the vacuum chamber and the hollow space of the cylinder body such that the vacuum chamber and the hollow space may be vacuumized; a first vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the cylinder body; a second vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the vacuum chamber; and a controlling unit connected to the vacuum generating unit and controlling the vacuum generating unit to withdraw the air through at least one of the first vacuum hose and the second vacuum hose when the vacuum creating operation is started.

The controlling unit may perform a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space of the cylinder body to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the first vacuum hose such that the piston may be operated to allow the hook to be caught by the hook receiving hole, and may perform a second vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the vacuum chamber to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the second vacuum hose. The second vacuum creating operation may be performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.

The cylinder body may be integrated with the lower body.

The vacuum chamber may include a first sealing pad disposed on a circumference of an upper surface thereof, and the cover may include a second sealing pad disposed to be in contact with the first sealing pad in order to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, and may further include an elastic pressure member elastically pressing at least one of the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad such that the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad may closely contact one another.

The cover further may include a fixed lower plate forming a bottom surface of the cover and fixedly installed; and a pressure plate spaced apart from the fixed lower plate, having the second sealing pad bonded to a lower surface thereof, and movably installed, and the elastic pressure member may be disposed between the fixed lower plate and the pressure plate and elastically press the second sealing pad in a direction toward the first sealing pad.

The elastic pressure member may be provided to elastically press the second sealing pad in a direction toward the first sealing pad, and the cover may further include a receiving groove having the elastic pressure member disposed therein and having the second sealing pad movably received therein.

The elastic pressure member may include a plurality of elastic pressure members spaced apart from one another in a length direction of the second sealing pad.

The cover may further include a connection member connecting the second sealing pad to the receiving groove and elastically extended or contracted to allow the second sealing pad to move by the elastic pressure member.

Advantageous Effects

Through the foregoing configurations of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to embodiments of the invention, when a vacuum creating operation is started, a cover closely contacts a lower body to completely seal a vacuum chamber, thereby creating an evacuated environment in which the vacuum chamber is able to achieve a more complete vacuum state, and improving the vacuum efficiency of a wrapper.

According to the embodiments of the invention, since an elastic pressure member elastically presses first and second sealing pads, the vacuum chamber can be hermetically sealed even in the case that first and second sealing pads are deformed by repetitive pressing, whereby the vacuum efficiency of the wrapper can be further improved.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates connections of elements of a locking unit according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 8 through 10 schematically illustrate operating states of the locking unit according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 schematically illustrate operating states of an elastic pressure member according to the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 15 and 16 schematically illustrate operating states of an elastic pressure member according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the elastic pressure member according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views illustrating modified examples of the fourth embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The exemplary embodiments are suitable to improve the understanding of technical features of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to the present inventive concept. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

First Embodiment

A vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for creating a vacuum within a wrapper by withdrawing air from within the wrapper. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the present embodiment may be disposed in one side of a housing 10 and may be connected to a vacuum generating device 20 and be controlled thereby.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vacuum packaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment may include a lower body 110 including a vacuum chamber 121 connected to the vacuum generating device 20, a cover 130 connected to the lower body 110 to cover the vacuum chamber 121, and a vertical moving unit 150 connected between the cover 130 and the lower body 110 while allowing the cover 130 to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower body 110.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum generating device 20 connected to the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 may include a vacuum generating unit connected to a cylinder body 151 of the vertical moving unit 150 via a first vacuum hose 22 and connected to the vacuum chamber 121 via a second vacuum hose 23, and a controlling unit 27 connected between a button unit 137 of the cover 130 and the vacuum generating unit and controlling the operations of the vacuum generating unit. Here, the vacuum generating unit may include a vacuum pump 21 and a vacuum motor 25 driving the vacuum pump 21.

Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, a vacuum chamber plate 120 may be installed on the lower body 110, the vacuum chamber plate 120 having the vacuum chamber 121 formed therein. Here, the vacuum chamber plate 120 may be integrated with the lower body 110 or may be separable from the lower body 110.

The cover 130 may be positioned above the lower body 110 to cover the vacuum chamber 121. Here, the lower body 110 and the cover 130 may be connected to one another by the vertical moving unit 150.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum chamber plate 120 may be connected to an upper portion of the lower body 110. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the vacuum chamber plate 120 may include a heating wire 122 provided on an upper edge portion thereof and the vacuum chamber 121 spaced apart from the heating wire 122 by a predetermined interval and forming a space therein.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum chamber 121 may include a chamber air suction port 121 a connected to the second vacuum hose 23. The chamber air suction port 121 a may protrude to have a predetermined height from a bottom surface of the vacuum chamber 121 in order for moisture within the vacuum chamber 121 to be kept from entering the second vacuum hose 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the vacuum chamber plate 120 may include piston through holes 133 respectively formed in both end portions thereof and receiving the vertical moving unit 150 inserted thereinto, and a pair of guide holes 124 and 125 disposed at both sides of each piston through hole 133 and serving to guide guide members to be described below.

In the embodiment of the invention, in order to avoid redundant explanations, the piston through hole 133 and the pair of guide holes 124 and 125 formed in any one end portion of the vacuum chamber plate 120 will be described. For the convenience of explanation, the pair of guide holes are indicated as a first guide hole 124 and a second guide hole 125.

Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, the cover 130 may be coupled to the lower body 110 to cover the vacuum chamber plate 120. Here, the cover 130 may be movably installed with respect to the lower body 110 such that a height thereof may be varied by the vertical moving unit 150.

The button unit 137 may be provided on an upper portion of the cover 130 to be connected to the controlling unit 27 of the vacuum generating device 20. In the interior of the cover 130, a second sealing pad 131 having a shape corresponding to a first sealing pad (not shown) disposed on an upper surface of the vacuum chamber 121 may be provided to seal the vacuum chamber 121, and a contact bar 132 may be brought into contact with the heating wire 122 provided on the vacuum chamber plate 120 to thereby seal a wrapper (not shown). Pistons 154 and guide members 153 and 159 of the vertical moving unit 150 are fixed to both end portions of the cover 130. Here, the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad 131 may be formed of a sponge or the like able to implement elastic compression.

Here, according to the embodiment of the invention, the vertical moving unit 150 may be installed at each of end portions of the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 to adjust a height of the cover 130. In order to avoid redundant explanations, the vertical moving unit 150 installed at any one end portion of the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 will be described.

The vertical moving unit 150 in the embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, may include the cylinder body 151 provided in the lower body 110, the piston 154 fixed to the cover 130, an elastic member 156 and the guide members 158 and 159, such that the vertical moving unit 150 may adjust the height of the cover 130 to allow the cover 130 to be brought into contact with the lower body 110 or to allow the cover 130 to be spaced apart from the lower body 110.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylinder body 151 may protrude from a bottom surface of the lower body 110. Here, the cylinder body 151 may have a hollow cylindrical shape, a top of which is open and a bottom of which is closed.

The cylinder body 151 may have an air intake port 152 connected to the first vacuum hose 22 of the vacuum generating device 20. Here, one end of the first vacuum hose 22 may be connected to the air intake port 152 and the other end thereof may be connected to the vacuum pump 21 of the vacuum generating device 20.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the air intake port 152 may include an air intake hole 153 having a smaller inner diameter than that of an end of the air intake port 152. In the case in which the air intake hole 153 is provided in the air intake port 152, the air intake hole 153 may be integrated with the air intake port 152 in order to prevent the air intake hole 153 from being separated from the air intake port 152.

The air intake hole 153 may be provided to adjust intensity of closing the lower body 110 by the cover 130 when air is withdrawn within from a hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151. For example, when the vacuum generating device 20 initiates the creation of the vacuum by allowing the vacuum pump 21 to withdraw air from the hollow space 151 a within the cylinder body 151, the velocity of air withdrawn by the vacuum pump 21 is decreased in a case in which a sectional area of the air intake port 152 is relatively small as compared to a case in which the sectional area of the air intake port 152 is large. This allows the cover 130 to slowly contact the lower body 110, whereby damage to the cover 130 and the lower body 110 at a contact portion therebetween may be prevented.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the invention, one end of the piston 154 may be fitted into a piston receiving recess formed in an internal surface of the cover 130. A sealing ring 155 fixed to the other end of the piston 154 may be inserted into the hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151. Here, the other end of the piston 154 may be inserted into the cylinder body 151 by passing through the piston through hole 133 formed in the vacuum chamber plate 120.

In addition, a piston washer 154 a may be disposed between one end of the piston 154 and the other end thereof to fix the elastic member 156. Here, the piston washer 154 a may protrude from an external peripheral surface of the piston 154 outwardly.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the invention, the elastic member 156 may be disposed to surround the piston 154 in a space between the cylinder body 151 and the vacuum chamber plate 120. Here, one end of the elastic member 156 may be fixed to the cylinder body 151 and the other end thereof may be fixed to the piston washer 154 a. The elastic member 156 may be a spring.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the elastic member 156 may allow the piston 154 to return back to the original position by elastic restoring force when the vacuum generating device 20 stops the vacuum creating operation, that is, the suction force exerted on the piston 154 by the vacuum pump 21 is removed and the compressed state is released.

Meanwhile, the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the invention may include a pair of guide members disposed adjacently to the side of the piston 154 so as to guide the movement of the piston 154. For the convenience of explanation, the pair of guide members are indicated as a first guide member 158 and a second guide member 159.

The first and second guide members 158 and 159 may be spaced apart from the piston 154 by a predetermined interval and be fixed to the internal surface of the cover 130. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, the first guide member 158 may be disposed within the lower body 110 by penetrating through the first guide hole 124 of the vacuum chamber plate 120, and the second guide member 159 may be disposed within the lower body 110 by penetrating through the second guide hole 125 of the vacuum chamber plate 120.

According to the embodiment of the invention, when the piston 154 moves upwardly or downwardly, the first guide member 158 may move along the first guide hole 124 in the same direction as the movement of the piston 154 and the second guide member 159 may move along the second guide hole 125 in the same direction as the movement of the piston 154 to thereby guide the upward and downward movements of the piston 154.

Hereinafter, an operating method of the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

When a start button 138 of the button unit 137 on the cover 130 is selected or a user pushes the cover 130 to allow a vacuum initiation signal to be input, the vacuum creating operation of the vacuum generating unit is initiated by the controlling unit 27 connected to the button unit 137. When the creation of the vacuum is initiated, the vacuum pump 21 is operated to withdraw air from the hollow space 151 a within the cylinder body 151 through the first vacuum hose 22.

According to the embodiment of the invention, when the start button 138 is selected or the cover 130 is pushed to allow the vacuum initiation signal to be input, the controlling unit 27 may perform a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151 to pass through the first vacuum hose 22 and to be withdrawn by the vacuum pump 21.

During the first vacuum creating operation of the controlling unit 27, the vacuum pump 21 may withdraw the air from within the hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151 through the first vacuum hose 22. When the air within the hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151 starts to be withdrawn by the vacuum pump 21, the piston 154 positioned within the hollow space 151 a of the cylinder body 151 may move down toward a bottom surface of the cylinder body 151 due to the suction force of the vacuum pump 21.

As the piston 154 moves downwardly, the cover 130 connected to one end of the piston 154 also moves downwardly together with the piston 154 due to the suction force of the vacuum pump 21, such that the cover 130 may be brought into contact with the vacuum chamber plate 120 connected to the upper portion of the lower body 110.

At this time, the cover 130 may be coupled to the lower body 110 while closely contacting the vacuum chamber plate 120 by the vertical moving unit 150, thereby preventing the vacuum chamber 121 from communicating with the outside. Accordingly, the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 may be operated to create a more complete vacuum state in the vacuum chamber 121 when the wrapper is vacuum-packed.

Meanwhile, when the vacuum chamber 121 is hermetically sealed by the cover 130 by which the cover 130 closely contacts the vacuum chamber plate 120 through the above-described process, the controlling unit 27 performs a second vacuum creating operation. Here, the second vacuum creating operation may be performed independently of and subsequent to the first vacuum creating operation, or may be performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.

During the second vacuum creating operation of the controlling unit 27, the vacuum pump 21 may withdraw the air from the wrapper (not shown, disposed in the vacuum chamber 121 through the second vacuum hose 23. When pressure within the vacuum chamber 121 reaches a predetermined level of pressure to thereby completely create the vacuum in the wrapper, the wrapper may be sealed by thermal fusion using the heating wire 122 in contact with the contact bar 132.

Meanwhile, when the wrapper is vacuum-packed by completing the sealing thereof using the heating wire 122 or a stop button 139 is selected, the operation of the vacuum motor 25 is stopped by the controlling unit 27 and the operation of the vacuum pump 21 is stopped accordingly. When the operation of the vacuum pump 21 is stopped, pulling force of the vertical moving unit 150 with respect to the piston 154 may be removed.

When the force applied to the piston 154 is removed, the compressed elastic member 156 may allow the piston 154 to return back to the original position by the restoring force. At this time, as the elastic member 156 moves upwardly to the original position, the cover 130 fixed to one end of the piston 154 also moves upwardly, such that the cover 130 may be separated from the vacuum chamber plate 120.

In the above embodiment, the vacuum packaging apparatus moving upwardly and downwardly has been described. Hereinafter, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 10.

Second Embodiment

Now, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 7 schematically illustrates connections of elements of a locking unit according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 8 through 10 schematically illustrate operating states of the locking unit according to the second embodiment of the invention.

A vacuum packaging apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention may include a lower body 210, a cover 230 and a locking unit 250 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Details and illustrations of the vacuum generating device 20, that is, the vacuum pump 21, the first vacuum hose 22, the second vacuum hose 23, the vacuum motor 25 and the controlling unit 27, having the same structures and the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the structure and shape of a vacuum chamber 211 will be omitted, and the cover 230 and the locking unit 250 having different features from the above-described first embodiment will be described in detail.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum chamber 211 may be disposed on an upper portion of the lower body 210 and the cover 230 may be hinge-coupled thereto to cover the vacuum chamber 211. A sensor 215 for operating the vacuum generating device may be provided on an upper surface of the lower body 210, such that it may be operated by contacting a contact protrusion 237 provided on a lower surface of the cover 230 when the cover 230 is positioned to cover the vacuum chamber 211.

In the interior of the cover 230, a second sealing pad 231 having the same shape as that of a first sealing pad 213 provided on an upper surface of the vacuum chamber 211 may be provided to seal the vacuum chamber 211 with the first sealing pad 213, and a contact bar 231 may be brought into contact with a heating wire 212 to thereby seal a wrapper. Here, the first sealing pad 213 and the second sealing pad 231 may be formed of a sponge or the like able to implement elastic compression.

Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, a protrusion through hole 214 may be formed in the upper surface of the lower body 210 such that a cover protrusion 235 may be inserted into an internal space of the lower body 21.0. Here, the protrusion through hole 214 may have a size sufficient for the cover protrusion 235 to be easily inserted into the lower body 210.

Meanwhile, the locking unit 250 may be installed in the lower body 210 below the protrusion through hole 214. Here, when the cover protrusion 235 passes through the protrusion through hole 214 and is inserted into the internal space of the lower body 210 and the contact protrusion 237 of the cover 230 contacts the sensor 215 for operating the vacuum generating device to thereby start the operation of the vacuum generating device 20, the locking unit 250 may be caught by a hook receiving hole 236 of the cover protrusion 235, thereby fixing the cover 230 to the lower body 210.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the locking unit 250 may include a hook 251 caught by the hook receiving hole 236 formed in the cover protrusion 235, a cylinder member 253 connected to the hook 251, and an elastic member 257.

In the present embodiment, a lower end of the hook 251 may be hinge-coupled to a hinge member 259 fixed to the lower body 210. Here, an upper end of the hook 251 may be bent to be caught by the hook receiving hole 236. A surface of a bent portion 251 a of the hook in contact with the hook receiving hole 236 may be rounded to be easily inserted into the hook receiving hole 236 while rotating at a predetermined angle using the hinge member 259 as the axis of rotation when the cylinder member 253 moves.

Meanwhile, one surface of a portion of the hook 251 between the upper and lower ends of the hook 251 may be connected to the cylinder member 253 and the other surface thereof may be connected to the elastic member 257. Here, one end of the elastic member 257 may be connected to the hook 251 and the other end thereof may be fixed to the lower body 210.

According to the embodiment of the invention, one end of the cylinder member 253 may be connected to the hook 251 and the other end thereof may be connected to the vacuum generating device 20. Here, the cylinder member 253 may include a cylinder body 255 having a hollow space therein, integrated with the lower body 210 and connected to the vacuum generating device 20, and a piston 254 inserted into the cylinder body 255 and performing a reciprocating piston operation.

In the embodiment of the invention, the cylinder body 255 and the piston 254 have the same structure, shape and operating method as those of the cylinder body 151 and the piston 154 according to the first embodiment of the invention, and thus, details of the structure and shape of the cylinder body 255 and the piston 254 according to the present embodiment will be omitted in order to avoid redundant explanations.

However, unlike the piston of the first embodiment, the piston 254 may be installed in the lower body 210 to move laterally with respect to the cylinder body 255. In the present embodiment, in a state in which a portion of the piston 254 is inserted into the cylinder body 255, an end of the piston 254 may be connected to the hook 251.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the invention, one end of the elastic member 257 may be fixed to the hook 251 and the other end thereof may be fixed to the lower body 210. When the vacuum generating device 20 starts to create the vacuum and the piston 254 pulls the hook 251, the elastic member 257 may move in the same direction as the movement of the hook 251 to be extended thereby.

In a case in which the pulling force of the piston 254 with respect to the hook 251 is greater than the restoring force of the hook 251, the hook 251 may move in the direction in which the piston 254 moves, and thus, the hook 251 may be caught by the hook receiving hole 236 formed in the cover protrusion 235. On the other hand, when the force applied to the piston 254 is removed, the elastic member 257 may return back to the original position by the restoring force.

Hereinafter, an operating method of the vacuum packaging apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 10.

When the cover 230 is positioned to cover the vacuum chamber 211, the cover protrusion 235 may penetrate through the protrusion through hole 214 to be inserted into the lower body 210 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

When the vacuum generating device 20 (see FIG. 1) starts to operate by which the contact protrusion 237 of the cover 230 contacts the sensor 215 for operating the vacuum generating device, the cylinder member 253 may move in a direction of an arrow as illustrated in FIG. 9 and pull the hook 251.

That is, when the creation of the vacuum is initiated, the controlling unit 27 may perform a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space of the cylinder body 255 to be withdrawn to the vacuum generating unit through the first vacuum hose 22 and operating the piston 254 to allow the hook 251 to be caught by the hook receiving hole 236.

When the cylinder member 253 pulls the hook 251 in the direction of the arrow as illustrated in FIG. 9, the hook 251 may be caught by the hook receiving hole 236 while rotating at a predetermined angle using the hinge member 259 as the axis of rotation as illustrated in FIG. 10. Here, the hook 251 may pull the cover protrusion 235 downwardly while rotating at a predetermined angle in a state in which the bent portion 251 a of the hook is caught by the hook receiving hole 236.

Therefore, the cover 230 may be connected to the lower body 210 while closely contacting the upper surface of the lower body 210 by the locking unit 250. The vacuum packaging apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the invention may allow the cover 230 to closely contact the lower body 210 and prevent the vacuum chamber 211 from communicating with the outside, thereby creating an evacuated environment to allow the vacuum chamber 211 to be in a more complete vacuum state and improving the vacuum efficiency of the wrapper.

Thereafter, the controlling unit 27 may perform a second vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the vacuum chamber 211 to be withdrawn to the vacuum generating unit through the second vacuum hose 23. Here, the second vacuum creating operation may be performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.

When the wrapper is vacuum-packed by the above-described process, the operation of the vacuum motor 25 is stopped by the controlling unit 27 and the operation of the vacuum pump 21 is stopped accordingly. When the operation of the vacuum pump 21 is stopped, the pulling force of the locking unit 250 with respect to the piston 254 may be removed.

When the force applied to the piston 254 is removed, the extended elastic member 257 may allow the hook 251 to return back to the original position by the restoring force. At this time, as the elastic member 257 moves back to the original position due to the restoring force, the hook 251 is separated from the hook receiving hole 236, such that the cover 230 and the lower body 210 may be unlocked.

Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 12 and 13 schematically illustrate operating states of an elastic pressure member according to the third embodiment of the invention.

A vacuum packaging apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment may include a first sealing pad 313, a second sealing pad 331, and an elastic pressure member 350 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 13. Here, details and illustrations of the vacuum generating device 20, that is, the vacuum pump 21, the first vacuum hose 22, the second vacuum hose 23, the vacuum motor 25 and the controlling unit 27, having the same structures and the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the structure and shape of a vacuum chamber 321 will be omitted, and a cover 330 and the elastic pressure member 350 having different features from the above-described first embodiment will be described in detail.

According to the embodiment of the invention, a vacuum chamber plate 320 may be installed on the lower body 310, the vacuum chamber plate 320 having the vacuum chamber 321 formed therein. Here, the vacuum chamber plate 320 may be integrated with the lower body 310 or may be separable from the lower body 310. In the present embodiment, the vacuum chamber 321 may be formed in the vacuum chamber plate 320 disposed between the cover 330 and the lower body 310, and alternatively, the vacuum chamber 321 may be integrated with the lower body 310.

The cover 330 may be positioned above the lower body 310 to cover the vacuum chamber 321. Here, the cover 330 and the lower body 310 may be connected to one another by the vertical moving unit 150 (see the first embodiment), or the cover 330 may be hinge-coupled to the lower body 310 (see the second embodiment). In the present embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 17, the cover 330 moves upwardly and downwardly by the vertical moving unit, by way of example.

In addition, a heating wire 322 may be provided on an upper edge portion of the vacuum chamber plate 320 connected to the upper portion of the lower body 310 while being spaced apart from the vacuum chamber 321. Furthermore, a contact bar 332 may be disposed in the interior of the cover 330 to be brought into contact with the heating wire 322 to thereby seal a wrapper (not shown).

Meanwhile, in the vacuum packaging apparatus 300 according to the embodiment of the invention, the vacuum chamber 321 may include the first sealing pad 313 disposed on the circumference of an upper surface of the vacuum chamber 321, and the cover 330 may include the second sealing pad 331 disposed to be in contact with the first sealing pad 313 to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber 321 and may further include the elastic pressure member 350 elastically pressing at least one of the first and second sealing pads 313 and 331 to allow the first and second sealing pads 313 and 331 to closely contact one another.

The first sealing pad 313 may be disposed on the upper surface of the vacuum chamber 321 and may correspond to the shape of the vacuum chamber 321. The second sealing pad 331 may have the same shape as that of the first sealing pad 313, such that it may closely contact the first sealing pad 313 when the cover 330 is closed, thereby hermetically sealing the vacuum chamber 321. Accordingly, the vacuum state may be created in the vacuum chamber 321. Here, as described above, the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 may be formed of a sponge, a rubber packing member, or the like, which is able to implement elastic compression.

The shape and material of the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 are not limited thereto, and various modified examples thereof may be implemented so long as the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 can closely contact one another to hermetically seal the vacuum chamber 321.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the invention, the elastic pressure member 350 may be included to elastically press at least one of the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331, such that the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 may closely contact one another.

That is, with reference to FIG. 14, since the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 are formed of a rubber packing member, a sponge, or the like, which is able to implement elastic compression, they may be deformed by compressions as they are repeatedly pressed by closing the cover 330. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, in a case in which the first sealing pad 313 is compressed to have a deformed portion S, a height thereof is lowered as much as the deformed portion, and thus, even when the cover 330 is closed, the first sealing pad 313 may not closely contact the second sealing pad 331.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the invention, there is provided the elastic pressure member 350 pressing the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 to closely contact one another. Even in the case that the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 are worn out and deformed, the elastic pressure member 350 may serve to press the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 in a direction in which they contact one another, thereby allowing them to closely contact one another.

Here, the elastic pressure member 350 may be provided to be initially in a compressed state when the cover 330 is closed. When the first sealing pad 313 or the second sealing pad 331 is deformed, the elastic pressure member 350 may be extended due to restoring force, thereby pressing at least one of the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 to be closely in contact with one another.

Here, the elastic pressure member 350 may be an elastic spring as illustrated. The elastic pressure member 350 is not limited to the elastic spring, but various modified examples thereof may be used so long as they can press at least one of the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 to be closely in contact with one another.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the cover 330 may include a fixed lower plate 333 forming a bottom surface of the cover 330 and a pressure plate 335 spaced apart from the fixed lower plate 333, having the second sealing pad 331 bonded to a lower surface thereof, and movably installed.

The elastic pressure member 350 may be disposed between the fixed lower plate 333 and the pressure plate 335 and elastically press the second sealing pad 331 in a direction toward the first sealing pad 313.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the fixed lower plate 333 may be integrated with the cover body to thereby form the bottom surface of the cover body. The pressure plate 335 may have a shape corresponding to that of the fixed lower plate 333 and may be movably installed below the fixed lower plate 333. Here, the cover 330 may include a catch portion 337 (see FIG. 11) protruding below the pressure plate 335 and preventing the pressure plate 335 from being separated from the cover 330.

In addition, the second sealing pad 331 may be bonded to the lower surface of the pressure plate 335. Since the shape of the second sealing pad 331 corresponds to that of the first sealing pad 331, when a user closes the cover 330, the second sealing pad 331 contacts the first sealing pad 313 to thereby hermetically seal the vacuum chamber 321.

The elastic pressure member 350 may be disposed between the fixed lower place 333 and the pressure plate 335 and elastically pressing the movably installed pressure plate 335 in the direction toward the first sealing pad 313. Here, the elastic pressure member 350 may be provided in plural, the plurality of elastic pressure members 350 being spaced apart from one another in a length direction of the second sealing pad 331.

The operations of the elastic pressure member 350 may be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

With reference to FIG. 12, in an initial operation of the vacuum packaging apparatus 300 according to the embodiment of the invention, in a state in which the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 are not deformed, when the cover 330 is closed, the elastic pressure member 350 is compressed. That is, the elastic pressure member 350 may be disposed between the pressure plate 335 and the fixed lower plate 333 in a state of being initially compressed.

Thereafter, as repetitive pressing is applied thereto, when the first sealing pad 313 or the second sealing pad 331 is deformed and contracted as illustrated in FIG. 13, in a state in which the cover 330 is closed, the elastic pressure member 350 may be extended due to the restoring force to thereby press the second sealing pad 331 in the direction toward the first sealing pad 313.

Accordingly, even in the case in which the first sealing pad 313 or the second sealing pad 331 is deformed and contracted by the repetitive pressing, the elastic pressure member 350 may press the second sealing pad 331 such that the first sealing pad 313 and the second sealing pad 331 may closely contact one another. Therefore, the vacuum chamber 321 may be hermetically sealed, whereby the vacuum efficiency of the wrapper (not shown) may be continuously maintained at a level the same as that of the initial state.

Fourth Embodiment

Hereinafter, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 15 and 16 schematically illustrate operating states of an elastic pressure member according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the elastic pressure member according to the third embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views illustrating modified examples of the third embodiment of the invention.

A vacuum packaging apparatus 400 according to the embodiment of the invention may include a first sealing pad 413, a second sealing pad 431 and an elastic pressure member 450 as illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 18. As in the third embodiment, the elastic pressure member 450 elastically pressing the first sealing pad or the second sealing pad may be included in the present embodiment, but is different in terms of installation method and structure. Therefore, details and illustrations of the same elements as those described in the first and third embodiments will be omitted, and the installation and operation of the elastic pressure member 450 distinguishable from those of the third embodiment will be described below.

Meanwhile, the elastic pressure member 450 may be disposed to elastically press the second sealing pad 431 in a direction toward the first sealing pad 413. A cover 430 may include a receiving groove 433 having the elastic pressure member 450 disposed therein and having the second sealing pad 430 movably received therein.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the elastic pressure member 450 may be provided in plural, the plurality of elastic pressure members 450 being spaced apart from one another in a length direction of the second sealing pad 431.

The receiving groove 433 may have the same shape as that of the second sealing pad 431, and the second sealing pad 431 may be inserted into the receiving groove 433 while forming a closed section. The plurality of elastic pressure members 450 may be spaced apart from one another between an internal surface of the receiving groove 433 and the second sealing pad 431.

Here, the receiving groove 433 may be formed as a single groove as illustrated in FIG. 17. Although not shown, the receiving groove 433 may be formed as a plurality of grooves receiving the plurality of elastic pressure members 450, respectively.

In addition, with reference to FIGS. 14 through 16, a guide groove 433 a may be formed in the receiving groove 433 and a protrusion 431 a may be formed on the second sealing pad 431. The protrusion 431 a may be installed to move along the guide groove 433 a and the second sealing pad 431 may move according to the compression or extension of the elastic pressure member 450. As the protrusion 431 a is caught by the guide groove 433 a, the second sealing pad 431 may be prevented from being separated from the receiving groove 433.

Here, a pressure plate 437 may be bonded to an upper surface of the second sealing pad 431. The pressure plate 437 may be formed of a material having greater intensity than the second sealing pad 431. For example, the pressure plate 437 may be formed of plastic or metal. Accordingly, the pressure plate 437 may prevent the upper surface of the second sealing pad 431 from being deformed when the elastic pressure member 450 presses the second sealing pad 431.

Meanwhile, the operation of the elastic pressure member 450 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. With reference to FIG. 15, in an initial operation of the vacuum packaging apparatus 400 according to the embodiment of the invention, in a state in which the first sealing pad 413 and the second sealing pad 431 are not deformed, when the cover 430 is closed, the elastic pressure member 450 may be compressed. That is, the elastic pressure member 450 may be disposed between the receiving groove 433 and the second sealing pad 431 in a state of being initially compressed.

Thereafter, as repetitive pressing is applied thereto, when the first sealing pad 413 or the second sealing pad 431 is deformed and contracted as illustrated in FIG. 16, in a state in which the cover 430 is closed, the elastic pressure member 450 may be extended due to restoring force to thereby press the second sealing pad 431 in the direction toward the first sealing pad 413.

Accordingly, even in the case in which the first sealing pad 413 or the second sealing pad 431 is deformed and contracted by the repetitive pressing, the elastic pressure member 450 may press the second sealing pad 431 such that the first sealing pad 413 and the second sealing pad 431 may closely contact one another. Therefore, a vacuum chamber 421 may be hermetically sealed, whereby vacuum efficiency of a wrapper (not shown) may be continuously maintained at a level the same as that of the initial state.

Meanwhile, a modification of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

The vacuum packaging apparatus 400 according to the embodiment of the invention may further include a connection member 435 connecting the second sealing pad 431 to the receiving groove 433 and being elastically extended or contracted to allow the second sealing pad 431 to move by the elastic pressure member 450.

That is, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 16, the guide groove 433 a and the protrusion 431 a may guide the movement of the second sealing pad 431 to thereby prevent the second sealing pad 431 from being separated from the receiving groove 433; however, in the present embodiment, the connection member 435 may perform such a function.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the cover 430 may further include the connection member 435 connecting the second sealing pad 431 to the receiving groove 433 and being elastically extended or contracted to allow the second sealing pad 431 to move by the elastic pressure member 450.

That is, one end of the connection member 435 may be bonded to the receiving groove 433, and the other end thereof may be bonded to the second sealing pad 431 such that the connection member 435 may connect the second sealing pad 431 to the receiving groove 433. Here, the connection member 435 may be thinner than the second sealing pad 431 and may be formed of a ductile material.

Accordingly, the connection member 435 may prevent the second sealing pad 431 from being separated from the receiving groove 431. In addition, the connection member 435 may be elastically contracted or extended according to the compression or extension of the elastic pressure member 450 to thereby allow the second sealing pad 431 to be installed movably.

FIG. 18A illustrates that the elastic pressure member 450 is compressed and the connection member 435 is contracted, and FIG. 18B illustrates that the elastic pressure member 450 is extended to press the second sealing pad 431 and the connection member 435 is extended accordingly.

As described in the first and second embodiments, when the vacuum creating operation is initiated using the vacuum pump allowing the vacuum chamber to be vacuumized, the vacuum packaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention may automatically allow the cover and the lower body to closely contact one another and prevent the vacuum chamber from communicating with the outside, thereby creating an evacuated environment, in which the vacuum chamber achieves a more complete vacuum state, and improving the vacuum efficiency of the wrapper.

In the third embodiment, since the elastic pressure member elastically presses the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad, the vacuum chamber may be hermetically sealed even in the case in which the first and second sealing pads are deformed or the like due to repetitive pressing, whereby the vacuum efficiency of the wrapper may be further improved.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A vacuum packaging apparatus comprising: a lower body having a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum generating device; a cover connected to the lower body to cover the vacuum chamber; and a vertical moving unit connected between the cover and the lower body to allow the cover to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower body and closely contact the lower body such that the vacuum chamber is hermetically sealed when the vacuum generating device starts a vacuum creating operation.
 2. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical moving unit includes: a cylinder body disposed in the lower body and having an air intake port connected to the vacuum generating device and a hollow space connected to the air intake port; a piston having one end fixed to the cover and the other end inserted into the hollow space of the cylinder body and moving downwardly in a length direction of the cylinder body due to restoring force when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation; and an elastic member having one end fixed to the cylinder body, provided to surround the piston and moving upwardly in the length direction of the cylinder body when the vacuum generating device stops the vacuum creating operation.
 3. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vertical moving unit further includes a guide member disposed to be adjacent to the piston, fixed to the cover, and guiding movement of the piston when the piston is operated.
 4. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the air intake port includes an air intake hole having a smaller inner diameter than that of an end of the air intake port.
 5. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vacuum generating device includes: a vacuum generating unit provided to withdraw air from within the vacuum chamber and the hollow space of the cylinder body such that the vacuum chamber and the hollow space are vacuumized; a first vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the air intake port of the cylinder body; a second vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the vacuum chamber; and a controlling unit connected to the vacuum generating unit and controlling the vacuum generating unit to withdraw the air through at least one of the first vacuum hose and the second vacuum hose when the vacuum creating operation is started.
 6. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controlling unit performs a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space of the cylinder body to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the first vacuum hose such that the piston moves downwardly in the length direction of the cylinder body to allow the cover and the lower body to contact one another, and performs a second vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the vacuum chamber to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the second vacuum hose, and the second vacuum creating operation is performed independently of and subsequent to the first vacuum creating operation or is performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.
 7. A vacuum packaging apparatus comprising: a lower body having a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum generating device; a cover hinge-coupled to the lower body to cover the vacuum chamber and including a cover protrusion disposed on a lower end portion thereof and inserted into a protrusion through hole provided in the lower body; and a locking unit fixing the cover to the lower body by allowing the cover protrusion to be fixedly inserted into the protrusion through hole when the cover is positioned to cover the vacuum chamber and the vacuum generating device starts a vacuum creating operation.
 8. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking unit includes: a hook caught by a hook receiving hole formed in the cover protrusion to fix the cover protrusion; a cylinder member having one end fixed to the hook and the other end connected to the vacuum generating device and performing a reciprocating piston operation when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation such that the hook is caught by the hook receiving hole; and an elastic member connected to the hook and allowing the hook to be separated from the hook receiving hole due to restoring force when the vacuum generating device stops a vacuum creating operation.
 9. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hook has an upper end thereof bent and caught by the hook receiving hole, and a lower end of the hook is hinge-coupled to a hinge member fixed to the lower body such that the hook pulls the cover protrusion downwardly while rotating at a predetermined angle using the hinge member as an axis of rotation when the cylinder member moves.
 10. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cylinder member includes: a cylinder body having a hollow space therein and installed in the lower body while being connected to the vacuum generating device; and a piston having one end fixed to the hook and the other end inserted into the hollow space of the cylinder body and moving in a length direction of the cylinder body when the vacuum generating device starts the vacuum creating operation.
 11. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vacuum generating device includes: a vacuum generating unit provided to withdraw air from within the vacuum chamber and the hollow space of the cylinder body such that the vacuum chamber and the hollow space are vacuumized; a first vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the cylinder body; a second vacuum hose connecting the vacuum generating unit to the vacuum chamber; and a controlling unit connected to the vacuum generating unit and controlling the vacuum generating unit to withdraw the air through at least one of the first vacuum hose and the second vacuum hose when the vacuum creating operation is started.
 12. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controlling unit performs a first vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the hollow space of the cylinder body to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the first vacuum hose such that the piston is operated to allow the hook to be caught by the hook receiving hole, and performs a second vacuum creating operation by allowing the air within the vacuum chamber to be withdrawn into the vacuum generating unit through the second vacuum hose, and the second vacuum creating operation is performed simultaneously with the first vacuum creating operation.
 13. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cylinder body is integrated with the lower body.
 14. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber includes a first sealing pad disposed on a circumference of an upper surface thereof, and the cover includes a second sealing pad disposed to be in contact with the first sealing pad in order to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, and further includes an elastic pressure member elastically pressing at least one of the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad such that the first sealing pad and the second sealing pad closely contact one another.
 15. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cover further includes: a fixed lower plate forming a bottom surface of the cover and fixedly installed; and a pressure plate spaced apart from the fixed lower plate, having the second sealing pad bonded to a lower surface thereof, and movably installed, and the elastic pressure member is disposed between the fixed lower plate and the pressure plate and elastically presses the second sealing pad in a direction toward the first sealing pad.
 16. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 14, wherein the elastic pressure member is provided to elastically press the second sealing pad in a direction toward the first sealing pad, and the cover further includes a receiving groove having the elastic pressure member disposed therein and having the second sealing pad movably received therein.
 17. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 16, wherein the elastic pressure member comprises a plurality of elastic pressure members spaced apart from one another in a length direction of the second sealing pad.
 18. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cover further includes a connection member connecting the second sealing pad to the receiving groove and elastically extended or contracted to allow the second sealing pad to move by the elastic pressure member.
 19. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cylinder body is integrated with the lower body. 